The Iowa Department of Transportation has announced $100 million in grant awards for Iowa commercial airports, including a $28.35 million grant to the Eastern Iowa Airport.
The funds were originally announced in March by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as part of an historic investment to modernize and strengthen Iowa’s air transportation system through the Iowa Commercial Aviation Infrastructure Fund (ICAIF). The $100 million was allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The Eastern Iowa Airport grant will be used to complete the final phase of the terminal modernization plan that began in 2014.
The ICAIF targets some of Iowa’s largest aviation system needs, including terminal buildings, parking structures, and hangar infrastructure at commercial service airports. Iowa’s eight commercial service airports were eligible to apply for projects that support modernization and expansion. All of Iowa’s commercial airports applied and have been approved for their fully allocated amount announced in the ICAIF program.
The Des Moines International Airport received the largest grant, $58.8 million, to construct a five-story parking garage, a new commercial multi-lane drive adjacent to the parking garage, and complete the 30% design phase for the new phased Airport Terminal Project.
Other grants include $3.2 million to Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, $2.8 to the Dubuque Regional Airport, $2.2 million to the Waterloo Regional Airport, $1.6 million to the Mason City Municipal Airport, $1.6 million to the Fort Dodge Regional Airport and $1.6 million to the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington.
The ICAIF program is made possible with allocations through federal American Rescue Plan state and local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Once grant awards are executed, airports will have until Dec. 15, 2023, to obligate funds, and until June 30, 2026, to claim reimbursement of eligible expenses under the agreement.
